Friday 29 July 2016

"Tactile Poems"

On 22 July, we had the opportunity to discuss the Stitching the Wars quilts with Arts Council England Chief Executive Darren Henley and Arts Council Senior Manager Rebecca Blackman. 

The quilts are a collaboration with hundreds of older people in Derbyshire, describing the effect of the world wars on rural life. They interleave embroidery, patchwork, poetry, memory... Darren Henley: "These are beautiful. Tactile poems, they're rich on so many levels."

(Left to right) Philip Davenport, Rebecca Blackman, Darren Henley, Lois Blackburn.
We've been working on the final stages of making at Buxton Library, making handling samples to go in the exhibition and editing a book that will complement the artwork, in a public session. Rebecca Blackman: "The colours are uplifting, unbelievable - and the content is very moving." 

Bombers Moon quilt, detail

This project is funded by Arts Council England and is the recipient of a Foundation Derbyshire award. The quilts have been publicly exhibited in various stages of completion and will shortly go on tour around libraries and museums in Derbyshire and further afield. Many thanks to Buxton Library Services for their hospitality.


Fresh Air & Poverty quilt, detail





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